Magneto support and drive



Nov. 4 19240 J. C. TOWLER MAGNETO SUPPORT AND DRIVE Filed Jan. 13. 1923 2 MHHH WHV I WHHHHHH 5 E w H l m a w 2 I mw r 2 WM g 7 V w J Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH C. TOWLER, 0F SHREWSBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

., MAGNETO surron'r AND DRIVE.

Application filed January 13, 1923. Serial No. 612,541.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrn C. Towmnz, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Shrewsbury, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Magneto Support and Drive, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to the provision of a suitable support and driving connections for magnetos as used to supply ignition current for automobile engines. The use of magnetos for this purpose has been much restricted on account of the labor and expense involved in attaching and providing a driving connection for a magneto on a gas engine, the cost of such attachment and connection being heretofore almost prohibitive except incases where the engine has been originally designed for magneto ignition. 1

It isvery often desirable to install magneto ignition in a gas engine originally designed for generator ignition and it is the object of'my invention to provide a construction and arrangement of parts by which a magneto may be easily and economically provided with an attaching supportand driving connections on such an engine.

It is a more specific object of my invention to provide a construction by which a magneto may be readily substituted for the distributer head commonly used for generator ignition and by which the magneto maybe driven from the same point of con.- nection to the engine, the magneto, support and driving connections being preferably formed as a unitary structure.

With these general objects in view, a preferred embodiment of my invention contour platesthe provision of a magneto and suitable transmission gearing, all mounted upon a single support or bracket and capable of attachment as a unit in place of the original distributor head, and preferably by the use of the same attaching means.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of a supporting structure by which the magneto will be positioned with its armature vertically disposed and connected by. very simple driving mechanism to the shaft from which the generator distributer head is commonly. rotated, the driving mechanism being desirably located in part within a chamberformed between the magneto casing and the supporting structure.

I also provide an improved construction by which the magneto may be easily adjusted in correct timed relation to the engine.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be. hereinafter described and more particic larly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional end view of a portion of an engine casing having a magneto mounted thereon; and

Fig, 2 is a detail view showing the manner ofattachment to a generator casing.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown a part of an engine casing 10 having a portion 11 extending laterally therefrom and provid ing a support for a drive shaft. 12. This drive shaft 12 often drives the water pump and in a generator system is commonly connected through spiral gears with a vertical shaft upon which the contact arm of the generator distributer head is mounted.

In my improved construction, this vertical shaft and its bearing sleeve is removed and a casing or bracket 15 is inserted in place thereof, the bracket having a hub or extension 16 fitting in the casing 11 in place of the bearing of the discarded distributor head shaft. This bracket 15 should be of non-magnetic material, so that it may not deflect the lines of magnetic force.

A transmission shaft 17 is mounted in the hub 16 and is preferably provided ith a spiral gear '18 at its lower end, meshing with a corresponding spiral gear 19 on the shaft 12. These gears may desirably be the original gears or of the same ratio.

A magneto indicated generally by the letter M is mounted on the support or bracket 15 and may be secured thereto by screws 20. The usual armature 21 is rotatably mounted in upper and lower bearings 22 and 23 in the magneto casing and is pro vided with a pinion 24 secured to the lower end of the armature shaft 25 and meshing with a gear 26 mounted on the upper end of the transmission shaft 17.

The gear 26 is commonly of twice the size of the pinion 24 for a four or eight cylinder engine, so that the armature may 'a gear 28- of twice its size. 'The gear 28 is thus driven at the same speed asthe transmission shaft 17 and rotates the usual magneto distributer head, not shown. For a three, six or twelve'cylinder engine, a threeto-one gear ratio is required. 7

The support and the lower end of the magneto casing form a chamber for the gear 26. and pinion 24: in which they are fully protected from dirt and injury. It is of course not essential that the magneto casing and the bracket 15 should always be formed as separate parts.

Anti-friction bearings and 31 may be provided for the shaft 17' in the support 15 and in the lower end of the magneto cas ing. A. binding screw 32' is provided for securing the hub 16. in position, the end of the screw seating in a groove 33 in thecylindrical' outer'surface' of the hub.

With'this construction, the magneto is readily connected through very simple gearing to the usual drive. shaft 12 and the simple bracket or; support 155 permits the assembled magneto and transmission shaft tobe firmly mounted in place of the usual distributer shaft and head. The cylindrical hub 16 with its groove 33 and the binding screw 32provide securing means which permits the bracket 15 to be moved angularly with relation to the engine casing to accomplish the final adjustment of the necessary timing relation between the engine valves and the magneto distrib'uterthe rough adjustment being. accomplished by meshing difl erent teeth of the gears 18 and 19. It should be; understood that the specific connections between the support'1'5 and the casof "my invention. by those ing l'li will varysomewhat in? different types of engines andthat the connections herein shown are illustrative of the connections for a. single type only. 7

In Fig. '2, I have shown my invention appliedto an engine in which the usual'genorator distributerhead is mounted on the generator casing35 and not on the engine casing. As in the previously described form,- the distributer head is removed and the hub 16 of the bracket 15 is inserted in place thereof, thedriving connections from the generator shaft 36 preferably beinga-s previously described. I Having, thus described my invention, it will be'evident that changes and .modifications can be made therein Within thescope skilled in the. art and I do not Wish to be limited to the details hereincdiselosed otherwisethan asset forth intlieclaims, but what I claim is 1. In a motor driven vehicle, in combination, casing, a magneto, anarinature shaft rotatably mounted. insaid magneto, a. support foifisaidfmagheto, .atransmission, shaft mo ulted 1n said-support, said support having an outwardly extending cylindrical bearing hub for said transmissiorn shaft and? said casing having a cylindrical recess to receive said hub, means to secure said hub in said recess, a drive shat-tin said casing, positive driving connections between said drive shaft and saith transmission shaft, and positive driving connections between said transmis sion shaft and said' armature shaft.

2. In a motor driven vehicle, in combina; tion, a casing, a 'inagnetogfa n armature; shaft substantially vertically dis ose-d" ther a support for said magneto, a trans-mi shaft mounted in said si'ipportf' par-alleii to" said armature shaft, a positive driving' 'cod nection between the upper end-' of said trans mission shaft and the low'er'endl of said armature shaft, means to secure said support on said casing, a drive shafthori'zbn tally rotatable in saidf'c'asing; anjdfa'f positive driving connection betweejifsa drive and thelower'end ofsaid transmission sh ft.

3. In; a motor driven vehi'cle', a sup rt ing casing, a ma'gneto having armature g shaft. and a magnetocasingg afsupport for said magneto securedto one" endofsaid magneto casing and enclosin a chamber formed therewith,- a" trans si'o'ri sh mounted in said su p-manansnnss ing connecting said armature anditransmis' sion shafts'and positioned inf-said"v clia'mher 95 said support having an" extension an, 7 supporting casing having a'corre'spo d'1i1'g opening, and'mea'ns to secure said extension in saiid'opening- 4:. In a motor driven vehicle;=;a casing, a drive shaft horizontally disposed thereimfa magneto having an armanire sha'ftya sup-'- port' for said magneto, a"tran;sinissiohi shaft mounted said sup ort' par armature shaft, meansfto attach id 'Sll port to said casing With salid'f tra'iism ii and armature shafts in vertical positi n; a positive gearingbetween the uppeiendofsaid transmission shaft apd theiewer end 'f saijd armature shaft, ,anda spiraljgea" con so "on between said 'drive" shaft'aiidthe 'lowe eiid of said transmission shaft"; v

5. In a 'motor"'driven vehicle, a'c l-siilgia drive sha ft horizontally) disposed 'tliereima magneto having an armature shaft,- a sup port for said magneto, a tra ns'mis sion sliaft mounted in said support parallel to said armature shaft, positive geari ggybetween said transmission shaft and '7 said 'armature shaft,means to attach saidsu-pportto said casing with said transmission and armature shafts in verticallposition anda spiral'gear connection between said drive shaftlandsaid ment of said bracket on said casing to vary the timing relation of said magneto and engine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOSEPH O. TOWLER, 

